Vibrating equipment



NOV. 19, 1968 Q w, DWYER ET AL 3,411,248

vVIBRATING EQUIPMENT Filed Oct. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y Flai.

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VIBRATINC- EQUIPMENT Filed Oct. 25, 1965 l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Air pressure within a tank forces polishing material into a mixing chamber and water pressure forces water into that mixing chamber, and then the admixed polishing material and water are sprayed into a vibrating container which contains objects to be polished. The

amount of polishing material admixed with the wate can be controlled by an appropriate adjustment in the setting of a valve intermediate the tank and the mixing chamber.

This invention relates to improvements in vibrating equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in vibrating equipment which can Ibe used to polish articles.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved vibrating device which can be used to polish articles.

Articles of different kinds can be polished by vibrating them in the presence of a polishing material. Customarily, a quantity of articles to be polished and a quantity of polishing material are disposed within the container of a vibrating device; and that vibrating device applies controlled vibrations to those articles and to that polishing material to provide relative movement between those articles and that polishing material. That relative movement enables the polishing material to provide polishing of the articles within the container of the vibrating device.

Unfortunately, the polishing material tends to provide a pronounced abrading or grinding action when the articles and that polishing material are newly introduced into the container of the vibrating device; and then that polishing material tends to provide only an insufficient polishing action after it has been in engagement with those articles for an `appreciable period of time. Furthermore, that polishing material can tend to discolor the surfaces of the articles where that polishing material is held in engagement with those articles for substantial periods of time. It would be desirable to provide a vibrating device which would cause the polishing material to provide the desired polishing action -for the articles, from the time that polishing material was introduced into the container of that device until that polishing material was removed from that container. The present invention provides such a vibrating device; and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vibrating device, which causes polishing material to provide the desired polishing of articles from the time that polishing material is disposed in contact with those articles until that polishing material is separated from those articles. admixes water and polishing material, and then introduces the resulting admixture into the container of the vibrating device. The admixture of water and polishing material is introduced into the container of the vibrating device on a substantially continuous basis, and it adds fresh polishing material to that container while rinsing away the spent polishing material. The substantially continuous introduction of fresh polishing material into the container of the vibrating device and the substantially continuous draining away of the spent polishing material enables the polishing of the articles to occur at a substantially uniform rate. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vibrating device wherein an admixture of water and polishing material is introduced into the container thereof on a substantially continuous basis and wherein the spent polishing material is grained from that container on a substantially continuous asrs.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description two preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. l is a perspective View of one preferred embodiment of vibrating device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the right-hand end of the vibrating device of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a schematic View of the right-hand end of another preferred embodiment of vibrating device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 in detail, the numeral 10 denotes a tank which is large and which is made sturdy enough to constitute a rugged and unyielding support for the vibrating device of the present invention. That tank has a deep and wide recess 12 therein which extends downwardly from the top thereof and which extends longitudinally thereof; and that recess makes the tank generally U-shaped in end elevation. The bottom, top and walls of the tank 10 are suitably secured to each other to make that tank air-tight. Four feet 14 are secured to the bottom of that tank to space that bottom a short distance above the floor on which the vibrating device rests.

The numeral 16 denotes a container which has an arcuate bottom and an open top; and that container is provided with flanges 18 that project horizontally outwardly from the side walls thereof. Those flanges 'are dimensioned to overlie the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped tank 10, as shown particularly by FIG. 2. A number of helical compression springs 20 have the lower ends thereof resting upon the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped tank 10 and have the upper ends thereof underlying and supporting the flanges 18 on the container 16. Suitable projections, not shown, extend upwardly from the upper ends of the arms of the tank 10 and extend downwardly from the lower faces of the flanges 18 on the container 16 to extend into the springs 20, and thereby prevent appreciable lateral movement of those springs relative to that tank and that container.

rl`he container 16 has an openable door 22 adjacent an opening in one end wall thereof, and that door is provided with a handle 24. That door will normally be in closed position to enable articles, which are to be polished, to be held within the container 16, and to enable admixed water and polishing material to be held in engagement with those articles. However, that handle can be moved to open the door 22 and permit removal of those articles from that container. A chute 26 is provided adjacent the door 22, and that chute will guide the polished articles toward a suitable receptacle as those articles move outwardly through the said opening in the said end wall of the container 16.

A spray pipe 28 is xedly mounted within the container 16 adjacent the top of that container; and that spray pipe has a number of spray nozzles 3d distributed along the length thereof. That spray pipe is mounted adjacent the concave side wall of the container 16, and it can thus spray an admixture of water and polishing material into the articles within that container as those articles move upwardly during the polishing operation provided by the vibrating device. The numeral 32 denotes a drain opening in that end wall of the container 16 which is opposite the end wall which has the opening that is closable by the door 22. The drain opening 32 is overlaid by a suitable screen or grid 33; and that screen or grid will keep any of the articles, which are being polished, from passing outwardly through the drain opening 32. A drain pipe 34 has the upper end thereof mounted adjacent the drain opening 32 and has the lower end thereof extending to a sump, not shown, or to a suitable sewer connection; and that pipe will permit spent polishing material and -water to pass to that sump or to that sewer connection.

The numeral 36 generally denotes the vibration-imparting mechanism of the vibrating device of FIGS. l and 2; and that vibration-imparting mechanism can utilize the structure shown in Lehman Patent No. 2,884,790, the structure shown in Ferrara Patent No. 2,902,868, or any other suitable structure. An electric motor 38 is suitably secured to the tank by brackets, not shown; and that motor acts through a variable speed control, not shown, to drive the rotating parts of the vibration-imparting mechanism 36. The numeral 40 denotes the electrical control box for the motor 36, and that control box is used to start and stop that motor. The numeral 42 denotes the knob of the said variable speed control; and that knob can be adjusted to regulate the speed of the rotating parts of the vibration-imparting mechanism 36.

The container 16, the door 22, the handle 24, the chute 26, the vibration-imparting mechanism 36, the motor 38, the motor control box 40, and the variable speed control and the knob 42 are known and are used in the art of vibrating devices. VAs a result, those elements are not, per se, parts of the present invention.

The numeral 44 denotes a pipe L which is secured to, and which is in communication with the interior of, the tank 10. That pipe L is located adjacent the top of one of the arms of that tank; and it has the free end thereof extending upwardly. A threaded plug 46 is normally held within the upper end of the pipe L 44, but that plug can be removed to permit polishing material to be introduced into that pipe L and thence into that tank. That polishing material will preferably be mixed with enough water or other liquid to form a slurry. A sight glass 48 is suitably secured to the lower portion of the tank 10 by fittings of standard form; and the polishing material within the tank 10 will enter that sight glass. The level of polishing material within the sight glass 48 will indicate the level of the polishing material within the tank 10.

The numeral 50 denotes a pipe which will be suitably connected to a source of compressed air. A pressure-regulator 52 is connected to the upper end of the pipe 50, and that pressure-regulator will limit the maximum value of the air pressure in the piping which extends upwardly from that pressure-regulator. A pressure gage 54 is connected to the pressure-regulator 52; and that gage enables the user of the vibrating device of the present invention to quickly and accurately set the level of air pressure that is desired. A pipe T 86 and a manually-operated shut-off valve 56 are provided in the piping which extends upwardly from the pressure-regulator 52; and, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the free port of that pipe T will be closed with a plug. A bleed-olf valve 58 is provided intermediate the shut-off valve 56 and the upper portion of the tank 10, and that bleed-off valve can be ,4 opened to vent the tank 10 to the air whenever it is desirable to do so.

The numeral 60 denotes a pipe which is connected to an opening, not shown, in the bottom of the tank 10; and that pipe extends upwardly to a manually-operated shut-off valve 62. Piping extends upwardly and then laterally from the shut-olf valve 62 to a pipe T 94 which is connected to the inlet of a combination needle valve and sight glass 64. In FIGS. l and 2, the free port of that pipe T will be closed with a plug. The pipe 60, the valve 62, the piping which extends upwardly and then laterally from that valve, and the pipe T 94 can conduct polishing material to the inlet of the combination needle valve and sight glass 64. That combination needle valve and sight glass enables the quantity of polishing material passing through it to be closed regulated; and it permits the polishing material which passes through it to be viewed. As a result, that combination needle valve and sight glass facilitates prompt and precise control of the amount of polishing material which passes through that combination needle valve and sight glass.

A mixing unit 66 has two inlets, and one of those inlets is secured to the outlet of the combination needle valve and sight glass 64. A exible pipe 68 is secured to the outlet of the mixing unit 66, and that pipe extends to the inlet of the spray pipe 28. The flexible nature of the pipe 68 keeps that pipe from appreciably impeding or interfering with the vibrating movement which will be imparted to the container 16.

The numeral 70 denotes a pipe which will be connected to a suitable source of water. The inlet of a manually-operated shut-oil? valve 72 is connected to the upper end of that pipe, and the outlet of that valve is connected to the second inlet of the mixing unit 66. Water that ows upwardly from the valve 72 into the mixing unit 66 and then into the flexible pipe 68 will tend to draw polishing material into that mixing unit and will then tend to carry that polishing material into the spray pipe 28.

The numeral 74 denotes a further pipe L which is secured to, and in communication with the interior of, the tank 10. A safety valve 76 is secured to the free end of the pipe L 74; and that safety valve will open whenever the air pressure within the tank 10 exceeds a predetermined level.

In using the vibrating device of FIGS. l and 2, the threaded plug 46 is removed from the free end of the pipe L 44; and then polishing material is introduced into that pipe L until that polishing material rises to a predetermined level in the sight glass 48. Thereafter, the plug 46 is set within the free end of the pipe L 44 to provide an air-tight closing of that pipe L. The pipe 70 will be connected to a suitable source of water, and the pipe will be connected to a suitable source of compressed air. The pressure-regulator 52 will be adjusted to provide the desired reading on the pressure gage 54; and that reading should be a few pounds greater than the pressure on the water in the pipe 70.

The door 22 will be set in closed position, and then the articles which are to be polished will be disposed within the container 16. The manually-operated shut-off valve 56 will then be opened to enable the pressure set by the pressure-regulator 52 to be applied to the polishing material within the tank 10. That pressure will urge that polishing material to enter the pipe and to ow upwardly through that pipe. The manually-operated, shut-off valve '72 will be opened to permit water to flow upwardly through the pipe 70, into and through the mixing unit 66, and then through the flexible pipe 68 into the spray pipe 28. The manually-operated, shut-off valve 62 will then be opened to permit polishing material to rise upwardly and to pass to the inlet of the combination needle valve and sight glass 64. Proper adjustment of the needle valve of that combination needle valve and sight glass will enable polishing material to flow into the upper inlet of the mixing unit 66 at a desired rate.

After a predetermined minimum amount of admixed Water and polishing material has been sprayed onto the articles disposed within the container 16, the control box 40 will be actuated to energize the motor 38; and the knob 42 will be adjusted to provide the desired rate of speed for the rotating parts of the vibration-imparting mechanism 36. That vibration-imparting mechanism will apply controlled vibrations to the container 16, and those vibrations will cause the articles within that container to move in a generally counterclockwise direction, as that container is viewed in FIG. 2. This means that as the articles to be polished -rise upwardly toward the top of the container 16, they will be sprayed with an admixture of fresh water and fresh polishing material. The countercurrent flow of the articles to be polished and the admixture of fresh Water and fresh polishing material will tend to free those articles of the spent admixture of water and polishing material and to coat those articles with the admixture of fresh water and fresh polishing material. The admixture of water and spent polishing material will work its way downwardly toward the bottom of the container 16 and will then pass outwardly through the drain opening 32 and be directed, by the drain pipe 34, to the sump or to the sewer connection.

The setting of the needle valve of the combination needle valve and sight glass 64 will be such that a small, substantially uniform amount of admixed fresh water and fresh polishing material will be introduced into the container 16 on a substantially continuous basis. That amount of admixed fresh water and fresh polishing material will provide the desired polishing effect on the articles to be polished but will not unduly abrade or grind the surfaces of those articles. That amount of admixed fresh Water and fresh polishing material will be great enough to cause the admixture of water and spent polishing material to flow to and through the drain opening 32 on a substantially continuous basis. As a result, that admixture of water and spent polishing material will not cause discoloring of the articles being polished.

Although the admixture of fresh water and fresh polishing material is being introduced into the container 16 on a substantially continuous basis, and although the admixture of water and spent polishing material is being drained from that container on a substantially continuous basis, the total amount of polishing material that is needed to polish any given quantity of articles is less than the total amount of polishing material which would be needed if that polishing material were to be introduced into that container on a batch basis. As a result, the vibrating device provided by the present invention is not only more desirable than prior vibrating devices because it provides better polishing action, but it is also more desirable than prior vibrating devices because it is more economical to operate.

The vibrating device of FIGS. l and 2 can easily and quickly provide a rinsing action whenever such an action is desired. All that the operator needs to do is close the manually-operated shut-off valve 62; and thereafter the water which passes through the mixing unit 66, the exible pipe 68, and the spray pipe 28 will be fresh water and will provide the desired rinsing action.

The vibrating device of FIG. 3 is very similar to the vibrating device of FIGS. 1 and 2, but it has three additional tanks. Specifically, the vibrating device of FIG. 3 has tanks 80, 82 and 84 in addition to the tank 10. The free port of the pipe T 86 is connected, by a shut-olf valve 98, to the upper end of each of the tanks 80, 82 and 84. Whenever the shut-off valve 98 is opened, air pressure will be applied to the upper portions of each of the tanks 80, 82 and 84. The free port of the pipe T 94 is connected to the bottom of the tank 80 by a shut-off valve 88, is connected to the bottom of the tank 82, by a shut-off valve 90, and is connected to the bottom of the tank 84 by a shut-off valve 92.

The provision of the tanks 80, 82 and 84 facilitates rapid and easy application of different materials to the articles introduced into the container 16. When the shutofr valve 62 is opened and the shut-olf valves 88, 90 and 92 are closed, the air pressure will force the polishing material from the tank 10 to flow through the pipe T 94 and the combination needle valve and sight glass 94 to the mixing unit 66. When the valves 62, 90 and 92 are closed and the valve 88 is opened, the material in the tank will flow through the pipe T 94 and the combination needle valve and sight glass 64 to the mixing unit 66. When the valves 62, 88 and 92 are closed and the valve 90 is opened, the material in the tank 90 will flow through the pipe T 94 and the combination needle valve and sight glass 64 into the mixing unit 66. When the valves 62, 88 and 90 are closed and the valve 92 is opened, the material in the tank 84 will ow through the pipe T 94 and the combination needle valve and sight glass 64 into the mixing unit 66. Any suitable materials can be stored within the tanks 80, 82 and 84; and as a result, it merely requires the closing of one shut-off valve and the opening of another shut-off valve to apply the desired kind of material to the articles within the container 16. Further, adjustment of the needle valve of the combination needle valve and sight glass 64 facilitates easy and quick adjustment of the quantity of material that is introduced into the container 16.

The vibrating device of FIG. 3 has an adjustable valve connected in the drain pipe 34 thereof. That valve can be adjusted to raise the level of admixed water and material in the container 16 to any desired value. That is helpful; because some finishing operations require a higher-than-normal level of admixed water and material in the container 16.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described two preferred embodiments of the present invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A vibrating device which comprises:

(a) a container for receiving and holding articles to -be polished,

(b) a vibration-imparting mechanism for imparting controlled vibrations to said container,

(c) an air-tight tank for holding .polishing material,

(d) a U-shaped recess in the top of said tank accommodating said vibration-imparting mechanism,

(e) a plurality of spaced-apart helical compression springs supported by said tank and supporting said container,

(f) a pressure regulator for establishing a predetermined maximum value of air pressure,

(g) piping extending between said pressure regulator and an inlet of said tank,

(h) a pipe for connection to a suitable source of water,

(i) a second pipe connected to an outlet of said tank,

(j) a mixing unit which has two inlets and an outlet,

(k) a spray pipe with spray headers mounted in said container adjacent the top thereof,

(l) a flexible pipe extending between said outlet of said mixing unit and said spray pipe,

(rn) a combination needle valve and sight glass connected to one of the inlets of said mixing units and connected to said second pipe,

(n) the other inlet of said mixing unit being connected to the rst said pipe,

(o) a, shut-off valve between the first said pipe and said second inlet of said mixing unit,

(p) a second shut-off valve between said pressure regu lator and said inlet of said tank,

(q) a third shut-off valve between said second pipe and said combination needle valve and sight glass,

(r) a drain opening in said container,

(s) a third pipe connected to said drain opening, and

(t) an adjustable valve in said third pipe,

(u) said container having a concave wall adjacent said spray pipe,

(v) said vibration-imparting mechanism applying controlled vibrations to said container to cause articles within said container to move upwardly along said concave wall toward said spray pipe,

(w) said tank receiving polishing material and said air pressure forcing said polishing material to pass through said second pipe and to move to and through said combination needle valve and sight glass to the first said inlet of said mixing unit,

(x) the first said pipe conducting water to said second inlet of said mixing unit and the pressure on said polishing material in said second pipe being high enough to keep said water from flowing from said mixing unit into and through said second pipe to said tank,

(y) said water and said polishing material becoming admixed in said mixing unit and passing through said flexible pipe to said spray header and spraying onto the upwardly-moving articles within said container,

(z) said combination needle valve and sight glass providing a controlled, substantially continuous flow of admixed water and polishing material to be sprayed onto the upwardly-moving articles within said container,

(aa) said drain opening and said third pipe providing substantially continuous draining away of water and spent polishing material,

(ab) said adjustable valve in said third pipe rbeing adjustable to establish a higher-than-normal level of -water within said container,

(ac) the needle valve of said combination needle valve and sight glass being adjustable to adjust the rate of flow of admixed water and polishing material to be sprayed onto the upwardly-moving articles within said container.

2. A vibrating device which comprises:

(a) a container for receiving and holding articles to be polished,

(b) a vibration-imparting mechanism for imparting controlled vibrations to said container,

(c) an air-tight tank for holding polishing material,

(d) a pressure regulator for establishing a predetermined maximum value of air pressure,

(e) piping extending between said pressure regulator and an inlet of said tank,

(f) a pipe for connection to a suitable source of water,

(g) a second pipe connected to an outlet of said tank,

(h) a mixing unit which has two inlets and an outlet,

(i) a spray mounted in said container adjacent the top thereof,

(j) a flexible pipe extending between said outlet of said mixing unit and said spray,

(k) an adjustable valve connected to one of the inlets of said mixing unit and connected to said second pipe,

(l) the other inlet of said mixing unit being connected to the first said pipe,

(m) a drain opening in said container,

(n) a third pipe connected to said drain opening,

(o) said container having a concave Wall adjacent said spray pipe,

(p) said vibration-imparting mechanism applying controlled vibrations to said container to cause articles within said container to move upwardly along said concave wall toward said spray,

(q) said tank receiving polishing material and said air pressure forcing said polishing material to pass through said second pipe and to move to and through said adjustable valve to the first said inlet of said mixing unit,

(r) the first said pipe conducting water to said second inlet of said mixing unit and the pressure on said polishing material in said second pipe being high enough to keep said water from flowing from said mixing unit into and through said second pipe to said tank,

(s) said water yand said polishing material becoming admixed in said mixing unit and passing through said fiexible pipe to said spray and spraying onto the upwardly-moving articles within said container,

(t) said adjustable valve permitting a controlled, substantially continuous flow of admixed water and polishing material to .be sprayed onto the upwardlymoving articles within said container,

(u) said drain opening and said third pipe providing substantially continuous draining away 4of water and spent polishing material.

3. A vibrating device which comprises:

(a) a container for receiving and holding articles to be polished,

(b) a vibration-imparting mechanism for imparting vibrations to said container,

(c) a tank for holding polishing material, and means for producing a predetermined pressure on said material in said tank,

(d) a pipe for connection to a suitable source of water,

(e) a second pipe connected to an outlet of said tank,

(f) a mixing unit which has two inlets and an outlet,

(g) a spray mounted on said container to spray admixed water and polishing material into said container,

(h) a conduit which extends between said outlet of said mixing unit and said spray,

(i) an adjustable valve connected to one of the inlets of said mixing unit and connected to said second Pipe,

(j) the other inlet of said mixing unit being connected to the lirst said pipe,

(k) a drain opening in said container,

(l) said vibration-imparting mechanism applying vibrations to said container to cause relative movement between articles within said container and said polishing material,

(m) said tank receiving polishing material and said polishing material passing through said second pipe and through said adjustable valve to the rst said inlet of said mixing unit,

(n) the first said pipe conducting water to said second inlet of said mixing unit and the pressure on said polishing material in said second pipe being high enough to keep said water from flowing from said mixing unit into and through said second pipe to said tank,

(o) said water and said polishing material becoming admixed in said mixing unit and passing through said conduit to said spray and spraying onto said articles within said container,

(p) said adjustable valve permitting a controlled, substantially continuous flow of admixed water and polishing material to be sprayed onto the articles within said container,

(q) said drain opening providing substantially continuous draining away of water and spent polishing material.

4. A vibrating device which comprises:

(a) a container for receiving and holding articles to be polished,

(b) a vibration-imparting mechanism for imparting vibrations to said container,

(c) an air-tight tank for holding material,

(d) a pressure regulator for establishing a pre-determined maximum value of air pressure,

(e) piping extending between said pressure regulator and an inlet of said tank,

(f) a pipe for connection to a suitable source of water,

(g) a second pipe connected to an outlet of said tank,

(h) a mixing unit which has two inlets and an outlet,

(i) a spray mounted on said container to spray admixed water and material into said container,

(j) a conduit extending between said loutlet of said mixing unit and said spray,

(k) an adjustable valve connected `to one of the inlets of said mixing unit and -connected to said second pipe,

(l) the other inlet of said mixing unit being connected to the rst said pip-e,

(m) a drain opening in said container,

(n) said tank receiving material and said air pressure forcing said material to pass through said second pipe and to move to and through said adjustable valve to the first said inlet of said mixing unit,

(o) the first said pipe conducting water to said second inlet ot said mixing unit and the pressure n said material in said second pipe being high enough to keep said water from owing from said mixing unit into and through said second pipe to said tank,

(p) said water and said material becoming admixed in said mixing unit and passing through said conduit to said spray and spraying onto said articles within said container,

(q) said adjustable valve permitting a controlled subtantially continuous fiow of admixed water and material to be sprayed onto the articles within said container,

(r) said drain opening providing substantially continuous draiing away of water and spent material.

5. A vibrating device which comprises:

(a) a container for receiving and holding articles to be polished,

(b) a vibration-imparting mechanism for imparting vibrations to said container,

(c) a tank for holding polishing material, and means for producing a predetermined pressure on said material in said tank,

(d) a pipe for connection to a suitable source of water,

(e) a second pipe connected to an outlet of said tank,

(f) a mixing unit which has two inlets and an outlet,

(g) a spray mounted on said container to spray admixed water .and polishing material into said container,

(h) a conduit extending between said outlet of said mixing unit and said spray,

(i) said second pipe being connected to one of said inlets of said mixing units,

(j) the other inlet of said mixing unit being connected to the first said pipe,

(k) a drain opening in said container,

(l) said container having an arcuate wall adjacent said spray,

(m) said vibration-imparting mechanism applying vibrations to said container to cause articles within said container to move upwardly along said concave wall toward said spray,

(n) said tank receiving polishing material and said polishing material passing through said second pipe to said one inlet of said mixing unit,

(o) the first said pipe conducting water to said second inlet of said mixing unit and the pressure on said polishing material in said second pipe being high enough to keep said water from flowing from said mixing unit into and through said second pipe to said tank,

(p) said water and said polishing material becoming admixed in said mixing unit and passing through said conduit to said spray and spraying onto the upwardly-moving articles Within said container,

(q) said spray spraying a substantially continuous ow of admixed water and polishing material onto the upwardly-moving articles Within said container,

(r) said drain opening providing substantially continuous draining away of Water and spent polishing material.

6. A vibrating device which comprises:

(a) a container for receiving and holding articles to be polished,

(b) a vibration-imparting mechanism for imparting vibrations to said container,

(c) a tank for holding polishing material, and means for producing a predetermined pressure on said material in said tank,

(d) a pipe for connection to a suitable source of water,

(e) a second pipe connected to an outlet of said tank,

(f) a mixing unit which has two inlets and an outlet,

(g) a spray mounted on said container to spray admixed water and polishing material into said cont-ainer,

(h) a conduit extending between said outlet of said mixing unit and said spray,

(i) said second pipe being connected to one of said inlets of said mixing units,

(j) the other inlet of said mixing unit being connected -to the first said pipe,

(k) a drain opening in said container,

(l) said container having an arcuate wall adjacent said spray,

(m) said vibration-imparting mechanism applying vibrations to said container to cause articles within said container to move upwardly along said concave wall toward said spray,

(n) said tank receiving polishing material and Said polishing material passing through said second pipe =to said one inlet of said mixing unit,

(o) the first said pipe conducting water to said second inlet of said mixing unit and the pressure on said polishing material in said second pipe Ibeing high enough to keep said water from liowing from said mixing unit into and through said second pipe to said tank,

(p) said water and said polishing material becoming admixed in said mixing unit and passing through said conduit to said spray and spraying onto the upwardly-moving articles within said container.

7 A vibrating device which comprises:

(a) a container for receiving and holding articles to be polished,

(b) a vibration-imparting mechanism for imparting vibrations to said container,

(c) a tank for holding a material,

(d) a second tank for holding a different material, means for producing a predetermined pressure on said material in said tanks,

(e) a pipe for connection to a suitable source of Water,

(f) avsecond pipe selectively connected to the outlet of the first said tank or to the outlet of said second tank,

(g) a mixing unit which has two inlets and an outlet,

(h) said vibration-imparting mechanism applying vibrations to said container to cause relative movement between articles in said container and the first l`said or said different material,

(i) a conduit extending Ibetween said outlet of said mixing unit and said spray,

(j) said second pipe being connected to one of said inlets of said mixing units,

(k) the other inlet of said mixing unit being connected to the first said pipe,

(l) a drain opening in said container,

(m) the first said tank receiving the first said material and said material selectively passing through said second pipe to the first said inlet of said mixing unit,

(n) said second tank receiving said different material and said different material selectively passing through said second pipe to the rst said inlet of said mixing unit,

(o) the rst said pipe conducting water to said second inlet of said mixing unit and the pressure on whichever ma-terial is in said second pipe being high enough to keep said water from flowing from said mixing unit into and through said second pipe to the rst said or said second tank,

(p) said water and said material or said different material becoming admixed in said mixing unit and passing through said conduit to said spray and spraying onto said articles within said container,

(q) whereby said vibrating device can easily provide individually different treatments for said articles within said container.

8. A vibrating device which comprises:

(a) a container for receiving and holding articles to be polished,

(b) a vibration-imparting mechanism for imparting vibrations to said container,

(c) a tank for holding polishing material and means for producing a predetermined pressure on said material in said tank,

(d) a pipe for connection to a suitable source of water,

(e) a second pipe connected to an outlet of said tank,

(f) a mixing unit which has two inlets and an outlet,

(g) a spray mounted on said container to spray admixed water and polishing material into said container,

(h) a conduit which extends between said outlet of said mixing unit and said spray,

(i) said second pipe being connected to one of said inlets of said mixing units,

(j) the other inlet of said mixing unit being connected to the rst said pipe,

(k) a drain opening in said container,

(l) a third pipe connected to said drain opening,

(m) said vibration-imparting mechanism applying vibrations to said container to cause relative movement between articles within said container and said polishing material,

(n) said tank receiving polishing material and said polishing material passing through said second pipe to the first said inlet of said mixing unit,

(o) the rst said pipe conducting water to said second inlet of said mixing unit and the pressure on said polishing material in said second pipe being high enough to keep said water from flowing from said mixing unit into and through said second pipe to said tank,

(-p) said water and said polishing material becoming admixed in said mixing unit and passing through said conduit to said spray and spraying onto said articles within said container,

(g) an adjustable valve in said third pipe,

(r) said drain opening providing substantially continuous draining away of water and spent polishing material,

(s) said adjustable valve in said third pipe -being adjustable to establish a higher-thanmormal level of water within said container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

